Importance of Strategic Autonomy for Data Credibility: NSSO & Census

The Census and NSSO are pillars of the Indian Statistical system. Though the system has colonial roots, the establishment of the National Sample Survey Organisation, in 1950 with strategic autonomy, coded into its DNA gave the professionals, the ability to develop and share with the public analytical reports without fear. In 1953, with the passing of the Indian Statistical Act, the process of democratisation, the importance of accountability to the people, was built into the system. Willingness to share information was kept voluntary, which meant the refusal to share information, was lower than 10 per cent giving the system's data gathering ability, much heft.

This strategic autonomy, and the related valuation of the statistical system, would be important to lend credibility to the 2001 census, which reported, that for the first time, in recorded history, the number of total illiterates, had declined. Statement 25, of the census, was closely scrutinised. Statement 25 gives the number of literates and illiterates among the population aged seven years and above in absolute figures for India for the 1991 and 2001 Censuses. The significant milestone reached in Census of India, 2001, is that the total number of illiterates has come down from 328,167,288 in 1991 to 296,208,952. With that, Borrowing a few words from Nehru, the reason for the struggle for freedom, had been achieved, not wholly but in some measure.  

Decisions taken in this millennium, have eroded that strategic autonomy, that story will be taken up in the next episode.

Further Reading 

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319292092_ORIGIN_AND_ACTIVITIES_OF_NSSO_GOVERNMENT_OF_INDIA (accessed on july 7, 2021)

2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-does-the-merger-of-national-sample-survey-office-and-central-statistics-office-entail/article27401039.ece

3. (https://censusindia.gov.in/Data_Products/Library/Provisional_Population_Total_link/PDF_Links/chapter7.pdf)